Definition of adulterousnext
as in extramarital
relating to or being a sexual encounter or relationship between a married person and someone other than their spouse had an adulterous affair that nearly destroyed his marriage

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of adulterous The unapologetically lurid tale of two families locked in an ever-complex cat’s cradle of class resentments and adulterous power plays also swarms with queen bees and jaw-droppingly muscular men that feel straight out of the Real Housewives playbook. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2026 As with the true story of the adulterous writers, there’s something at the center of The Disappear that feels cringily solipsistic. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 19 Jan. 2026 In the months since the incident unfolded at Gillette Stadium, the public — which was quick to discover that Cabot worked as an HR executive under Byron, and that both were married to other people at the time — has been quick to brand the pair as adulterous villains. — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 18 Dec. 2025 The supernatural thriller sees a woman return from death as a vindictive spirit to torment her adulterous husband. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for adulterous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for adulterous
Adjective
  • In the space of a few paragraphs, Ned will abandon and recover his child, bungle an extramarital affair, win and lose, experience ecstasy and dejection.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Black also allegedly confided in Epstein about personal matters, including extramarital affairs that ended in nondisclosure agreements, according to emails released last year.
    — Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 15 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Others argue that the district’s tiniest campuses are unable to offer the full breadth of academic courses and extracurricular activities.
    — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026
  • So Helen networks to get Bo and Mido admitted to an elite hagwon—an extracurricular cram school—and sends DH, an athlete, to Andover, then Yale.
    — Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Adulterous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adulterous. Accessed 1 Oct. 2026.

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